Passenger 57, released in theaters on Nov. 6, 1992, is a pulse-pounding thriller set almost entirely aboard a hijacked airliner. Wesley Snipes stars as John Cutter, a recently widowed airline security expert still struggling with personal loss.
Cutter boards a flight where the infamous criminal mastermind Charles Rane (Bruce Payne) is being transported by the FBI. Also on board are flight attendants Marti Slayton (Alex Datcher) and Sabrina Ritchie (Elizabeth Hurley).
Cutter’s colleague Sly Delvecchio (Tom Sizemore) and airline executive Stuart Ramsey (Bruce Greenwood) are back at airline’s headquarters.
When Rane’s team springs into action mid-flight—killing federal escorts and seizing control of the plane—Cutter becomes the only passenger capable of stopping their deadly plan.
Using his tactical skills, he disrupts their takeover and orchestrates a forced landing in Louisiana, but is wrongfully detained by local authorities.
As Rane manipulates ground control to refuel and possibly execute hostages, Cutter proves his worth, escaping custody and hunting down Rane and his crew across an airfield and a carnival.
The tension peaks with Cutter fighting Rane onboard during an explosive decompression, culminating in Cutter ejecting Rane from the airplane and saving the passengers.
Passenger 57 is widely credited with revitalizing the action genre in the early 1990s and further propelling Snipes into stardom.
The film’s taut pacing, efficient storytelling, and memorable catchphrases—most notably “Always bet on black”—gave Snipes enduring pop-culture status.
Payne’s cold-blooded villain and Hurley’s seductive henchwoman became genre archetypes, while the relentless setting aboard the airplane influenced countless later action films.
Passenger 57’s blend of martial arts, suspenseful cat-and-mouse games, and social resonance remains a touchstone for the “Die Hard on a plane” formula.
Wesley Snipes in Passenger 57 (Photo/Warner Bros.)
Reception for Passenger 57
Passenger 57 grossed $10.5 million on its opening weekend, finishing No. 1 at the box office, topping Under Siege, which earned $5.7 million on its fifth weekend to come in second place.
The film would gross $44.1 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy
Critics praised Passenger 57’s brisk plot and high-energy performances, even as they noted its formulaic structure and occasionally implausible set pieces.
It is celebrated during retrospectives for perfecting the streamlined, hero-against-the-odds template and has since become a staple of cable reruns and action marathon programming.
Modern audiences continue to enjoy its efficient storytelling and genre-defining style, cementing Snipes as an action icon and setting the mold for a new era of sleek, confined thrillers.
